Polymeric nanoparticles for enhanced delivery and improved bioactivity of essential oils.

Essential oils are volatile constituents that give aromatic plants their characteristic odour. The application of these plant actives in food, agriculture, pharmaceutics, and cosmetics has been widely studied. Aromatherapy, a complementary therapy involving the use of essential oils to treat several diseases ranging from microbial infections to metabolic dysfunctions, has been utilised for centuries. Anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities are well-established among other pharmacological properties of these aromatic oils. The oils, which are composed mainly of terpene-based compounds, have also been explored as nutraceuticals, alternative green preservatives, and functional additives in foods. However, due to their physicochemical properties, viz high volatility and low aqueous solubility, essential oil delivery to target receptors were challenging when administered as chemotherapeutics. Hence, formulating essential oils with suitable excipients to enhance their delivery and bioavailability, invariably improving their bioactivity and therapeutic efficacy becomes expedient. Nanotechnology presents a unique strategy to develop a particulate delivery system for the controlled, sustained, and extended release of essential oils. In this review, we examine and summarize the trends and developments in the formulation of essential oils using polymeric nanoparticles.

Integrated Genomic Selection for Accelerating Breeding Programs of Climate-Smart Cereals.

Rapidly rising population and climate changes are two critical issues that require immediate action to achieve sustainable development goals. The rising population is posing increased demand for food, thereby pushing for an acceleration in agricultural production. Furthermore, increased anthropogenic activities have resulted in environmental pollution such as water pollution and soil degradation as well as alterations in the composition and concentration of environmental gases. These changes are affecting not only biodiversity loss but also affecting the physio-biochemical processes of crop plants, resulting in a stress-induced decline in crop yield. To overcome such problems and ensure the supply of food material, consistent efforts are being made to develop strategies and techniques to increase crop yield and to enhance tolerance toward climate-induced stress. Plant breeding evolved after domestication and initially remained dependent on phenotype-based selection for crop improvement. But it has grown through cytological and biochemical methods, and the newer contemporary methods are based on DNA-marker-based strategies that help in the selection of agronomically useful traits. These are now supported by high-end molecular biology tools like PCR, high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping, data from crop morpho-physiology, statistical tools, bioinformatics, and machine learning. After establishing its worth in animal breeding, genomic selection (GS), an improved variant of marker-assisted selection (MAS), has made its way into crop-breeding programs as a powerful selection tool. To develop novel breeding programs as well as innovative marker-based models for genetic evaluation, GS makes use of molecular genetic markers. GS can amend complex traits like yield as well as shorten the breeding period, making it advantageous over pedigree breeding and marker-assisted selection (MAS). It reduces the time and resources that are required for plant breeding while allowing for an increased genetic gain of complex attributes. It has been taken to new heights by integrating innovative and advanced technologies such as speed breeding, machine learning, and environmental/weather data to further harness the GS potential, an approach known as integrated genomic selection (IGS). This review highlights the IGS strategies, procedures, integrated approaches, and associated emerging issues, with a special emphasis on cereal crops. In this domain, efforts have been taken to highlight the potential of this cutting-edge innovation to develop climate-smart crops that can endure abiotic stresses with the motive of keeping production and quality at par with the global food demand.

Negative Impacts of Arsenic on Plants and Mitigation Strategies.

Arsenic (As) is a metalloid prevalent mainly in soil and water. The presence of As above permissible levels becomes toxic and detrimental to living organisms, therefore, making it a significant global concern. Humans can absorb As through drinking polluted water and consuming As-contaminated food material grown in soil having As problems. Since human beings are mobile organisms, they can use clean uncontaminated water and food found through various channels or switch from an As-contaminated area to a clean area; but plants are sessile and obtain As along with essential minerals and water through roots that make them more susceptible to arsenic poisoning and consequent stress. Arsenic and phosphorus have many similarities in terms of their physical and chemical characteristics, and they commonly compete to cause physiological anomalies in biological systems that contribute to further stress. Initial indicators of arsenic's propensity to induce toxicity in plants are a decrease in yield and a loss in plant biomass. This is accompanied by considerable physiological alterations; including instant oxidative surge; followed by essential biomolecule oxidation. These variables ultimately result in cell permeability and an electrolyte imbalance. In addition, arsenic disturbs the nucleic acids, the transcription process, and the essential enzymes engaged with the plant system's primary metabolic pathways. To lessen As absorption by plants, a variety of mitigation strategies have been proposed which include agronomic practices, plant breeding, genetic manipulation, computer-aided modeling, biochemical techniques, and the altering of human approaches regarding consumption and pollution, and in these ways, increased awareness may be generated. These mitigation strategies will further help in ensuring good health, food security, and environmental sustainability. This article summarises the nature of the impact of arsenic on plants, the physio-biochemical mechanisms evolved to cope with As stress, and the mitigation measures that can be employed to eliminate the negative effects of As.

Effect of co-administration of metformin and extracts of Costus pictus D.Don leaves on alloxan-induced diabetes in rats.

Background and aim: The present study evaluates the antidiabetic effects of aqueous (CPAQ) and methanolic (CPME) extract of Costus pictus D. Don singly and/or in combination with metformin in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Experimental procedure: CPAQ and CPME (400 mg/kg dose), metformin (120 mg/kg) and two different combinations of plant extracts and metformin (200 + 60 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg + 60 mg/kg) were orally given to alloxan-induced diabetic rats for 21 days. At 0, 7, 14, and 21 days, body weight and blood glucose levels were measured. Results and conclusion: After 21 days of treatment, biochemical profiling and histopathology analysis were carried out. CPAQ and CPME, when administrated separately, could decrease blood glucose levels (P ≤ 0.05). CPME showed more promising results (P ≤ 0.05) compared to the diabetic control group. Extracts co-administrated with metformin showed dose-dependent significant recovery of hypoglycemic activity of metformin. Fasting blood glucose levels, body weight, protein, and lipid profile of the treatment group were compared to the diabetic and normal control groups. Animal groups co-administered with CPME and metformin showed more significant effects on the recovery of tissue damages. The synergistic effect of plant extracts with metformin has positive effects on all the parameters and enhanced the efficiency and reduction of blood glucose levels.

Hypertension and its management in COVID-19 patients: The assorted view.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is suspected to mainly be more deleterious in patients with underlying cardiovascular diseases (CVD). There is a strong association between hypertension and COVID-19 severity. The binding of SARS-CoV-2 to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) leads to deregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) through down-regulation of ACE2 with subsequent increment of the harmful Ang II serum levels and reduction of the protective Ang-(1-7). Both angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) are commonly used to manage hypertension. OBJECTIVE: Objective was to illustrate the potential link between hypertension and COVID-19 regarding the role of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in hypertensive patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We carried out comprehensive databases search from late December 2019 to early January 2021 by using online engines of Web of Science, Research gate, Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed for published and preprinted articles. RESULTS: The present study's findings showed that hypertension is regarded as an independent risk factor for COVID-19 severity. Both ACEIs and ARBs are beneficial in managing hypertensive patients. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that hypertension increases COVID-19 severity due to underlying endothelial dysfunctions and coagulopathy. COVID-19 might augment the hypertensive complications due to down-regulation of ACE2. The use of ACEIs or ARBs might be beneficial in the management of hypertensive patients with COVID-19.

Critical review of the Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: ethnobotany, pharmacological efficacy, and commercialization significance in Africa.

BACKGROUND: Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (W. somnifera) is a herb commonly known by its English name as Winter Cherry. Africa is indigenous to many medicinal plants and natural products. However, there is inadequate documentation of medicinal plants, including W. somnifera, in Africa. There is, therefore, a need for a comprehensive compilation of research outcomes of this reviewed plant as used in traditional medicine in different regions of Africa. METHODOLOGY: Scientific articles and publications were scooped and sourced from high-impact factor journals and filtered with relevant keywords on W. somnifera. Scientific databases, including GBIF, PubMed, NCBI, Google Scholar, Research Gate, Science Direct, SciFinder, and Web of Science, were accessed to identify the most influential articles and recent breakthroughs published on the contexts of ethnography, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and commercialization of W. somnifera. RESULTS: This critical review covers the W. somnifera ethnography, phytochemistry, and ethnomedicinal usage to demonstrate the use of the plant in Africa and elsewhere to prevent or alleviate several pathophysiological conditions, including cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, reproductive impotence, as well as other chronic diseases. CONCLUSION: W. somnifera is reportedly safe for administration in ethnomedicine as several research outcomes confirmed its safety status. The significance of commercializing this plant in Africa for drug development is herein thoroughly covered to provide the much-needed highlights towards its cultivations economic benefit to Africa.

Therapeutic drugs for SARS-CoV-2 treatment: Current state and perspective.

The disease caused by viral pneumonia called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type-2 (SARS-CoV-2) declared by the World Health Organization is a global pandemic that the world has witnessed since the last Ebola epidemic, SARS and MERS viruses. Many chemical compounds with antiviral activity are currently undergoing clinical investigation in order to find treatments for SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. On-going drug-drug interaction examinations on new, existing, and repurposed antiviral drugs are yet to provide adequate safety, toxicological, and effective monitoring protocols. This review presents an overview of direct and indirect antiviral drugs, antibiotics, and immune-stimulants used in the management of SARS-CoV-2. It also seeks to outline the recent development of drugs with anti-coronavirus effects; their mono and combination therapy in managing the disease vis-à-vis their biological sources and chemistry. Co-administration of these drugs and their interactions were discussed to provide significant insight into how adequate monitoring of patients towards effective health management could be achieved.